14.1 The examining team shall comprise an internal examiner and 1 or 2 external examiners.
14.2 All elements of the preparation for the examination will be by email, and the examination will be 1 of 3 options to be as follows:
- an all in person viva;
- a hybrid viva- where the external participates remotely but the internal and candidate are physically present (note that it is the responsibility of the internal to ensure the facilities are in place for this);
- an all online viva-which must be cleared in advance using the procedure established during Covid.
Please note that the expectation remains that where an external examiner is not based in the UK, they will participate in the viva remotely. This is longstanding practice and is not altered by the retreat of Covid.
14.3 The internal examiner shall be a member of staff of the University or the candidate’s Collaborating Establishment other than a supervisor or adviser of the candidate.
Where possible, Internal examiners should be experienced in research in the general area of the candidate’s thesis but need not be a subject expert.
In cases where the internal examiner has not previously examined a higher degree, the Sub-Committee will consider whether a Chair is necessary to ensure consistency. All new internal examiners must have completed the relevant central training before they are proposed for approval by the Research Degree Committee. This is to ensure consistency and standardisation of the processes.
14.4 The examiners shall be experienced in research in the general area of the candidate’s thesis and, where practicable, have experience as a specialist in the topic(s) to be examined.
14.5 At least 1 external examiner shall have substantial experience of research degree examination (that is, shall have examined at least 2 research degree candidates). In the case of a PhD examination, at least 1 external examiner shall have examined at least 2 PhD candidates. In the case of an examination for one of the other types of research degree (i.e. MPhil, PhD by Published Work, or Professional Doctorate), the external examiner must have:
- experience of examining at least 1 doctorate; and
- hold, or have experience of examining or supervising 1 candidate for, the type of degree they are being proposed.
Exceptionally (e.g. in developing areas of provision), the Research Degrees Committee shall have the discretion to modify the latter requirement (2), subject to demonstration that the integrity of examination arrangements will otherwise be maintained.
14.6 In all cases where the candidate and the internal examiner are both on the staff of the same establishment, a second external examiner shall be appointed. If the candidate ceased to be contracted as a staff member of the University more than 6 months before the examiner appointment a second external examiner would not be required.
14.7 An external examiner shall be independent both of the University and of the Collaborating Establishment and shall not have acted previously as the candidate’s supervisor or adviser.
An external examiner shall normally not be either a supervisor of another candidate or an external examiner on a taught course in the same Faculty at the University.
Former members of staff of the University shall not be approved as external examiners until 5 years after the termination of their employment with the University.
Recently retired individuals are eligible for the role provided that they can provide evidence of continuing involvement in the subject area on the RDC-CV form.
The Research Degree Committee shall ensure that the same external examiner is not approved for more than 4 examinations in a period of 3 years, and so ensure that the examiner does not become too familiar with the Faculty and therefore prejudice objective judgement. If an external examiner has been appointed for the maximum of 4 examinations, the examiner concerned should not be proposed again for a period of 2 years.
14.8 No candidate for a research degree or a professional higher degree shall act as an examiner.
14.9 The University shall determine and pay the fees and expenses of the examiners.
14.10 To note, no online, or face to face viva, will ever be recorded. Therefore if the online viva is undertaken via Zoom, the record function must be turned off before the viva begins.